Spark-plug cleaner



F. WAMBACK SPARK PLUG CLEANER July 31, 1923.

Filed March 3. 1922 Patented July 31, 1923.

UNITED. stares 1,463,350 FAT -M wi c rnnnnnrc wnMB cK, or ennnnwrcrr, oonlvnoriou'ri SPARK-PLUG" CLEANER.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIG WAMBACK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenwich, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark- Plug Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cleaning devices especially adapted for use in connection with spark plugs.

An important object is to-provide a spark plug cleaning device embodying a pair of spring members adapted to be inserted into the shell of a spark plug and engaged with the inner wall of the same whereby to efiectively remove the carbon.

Further the invention aims to provide a device of the class described which may be inserted into a spark plug without changing the position of the electrodes or without removing any of the parts of the spark plug.

A further object is to provide a cleaning device of the class described which is neat in appearance, of highly simplified construction and cheap to manufacture.

Other object and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the device applied.

Figure 2 is 'a vertical sectional view through the device applied.

Figure 3 is a group perspective illustrating the device and a portion of the shell of a spark plug.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the device is formed.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration i shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 generally designates the attaching portion of a spark plug 6, the said spark plug being provided with transversely extending electrodes 7 and a centrally arranged longitudinally extending electrode 8.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application resides in providing simple mean whereby the interior of the shell 6 may be cleaned when coated with carbon or the like and the improved cleaner consists of a single blank of metal 10 having its intermediate portion enlarged as indi cated at 11 and bent along the transverse line 12 to provide a handle. By bending the blank of metal 10 along the transverse line Application filed March 3, 1922. Serial No; 540,751. T

12 spaced parallel gradually reduced spring arms'14 are provided, the said arms having their terminal portions extending diagonally and coiled to provide cutting edges 16 and 18. The diagonally extending end portions of the spring arms 14 are also slotted longitudinally as indicated at 20 to provide additional cutting edges and to provide pockets for the reception of carbon.

A illustrated in Figure 3 the diagonally extending end portions of the arms 14 are I curved and are snugly received within the shell so as to effectively remove the coating of carbon within the shell. It will be seen that the cutting edges 16 and 18 extend at an angle to each other and contact with the interior of the shell whereby to effectively scrape the same. The spring arms 14 may be pressed together so as to permit the diagonally extendingenlarged end portions of the arms to be freely inserted into the shell.

The diagonally extending end portions of the arms 14 have their edges arranged in spaced relation so as to provide spiral slots for the reception of the transversely extending electrodes.

In use the arms 14 are pressed together so that the diagonally extending end portions of the arms may be convenientlyinserted into the shell. The improvedcleaning device is now rocked so that the cutting edge will be engaged with the interior 0 the shell for removing the carbon.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is z 1. A cleaning device for spark plugs comprising a single length of metal bent intermediate its ends to provide a pair ofspring arms, the end portions of which are extended diagonally and are provided with oppositely arranged cutting edges adapted to engage diagonally extending end portions of said W arms being provided with longitudinally extending slots defining cutting edges and pockets for the reception of the carbon.

3. A spark plug cleaning device formed from a single piece of spring metal bent intermediate its ends to provide spring arms and a manipulating handle, the end portions of the arms being extended diagonally and provided with diverging cutting edges adapted to be engaged with the interior of a spark plug shell, the cutting edges of said diagonally extending end portions being arranged in spaced relation whereby to provide spiral slots for the reception of the transversely extending electrodes of a spark plug, the diagonally extending end portions of said arms being curved to conform to the curvature of the wall of the shell.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERIG WAMBACK.

Witnesses:

H. D. DU'FRY, H. J. ONEILL. 

